After years of anticipation, the long-awaited heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder was spoiled when Joshua lost against Joseph Parker. According to promoter Eddie Hearn, the two former world champions had signed a deal to fight in Saudi Arabia early next year, provided they both won on the Day of Reckoning card on December 23.
Despite being comprehensively out-boxed over twelve rounds, Joshua kept his end of the bargain by dispatching of Otto Wallin in five rounds. However, it’s not expected that Joshua will focus on becoming a three-time world champion, instead of taking part in a money-spinning non-title bout with Wilder.
Deontay Wilder has insisted that he would still take the fight, but that Joshua would use the Parker loss as an excuse to block it. He also believes that, if he had won, Joshua would have retired on the spot.
“There’s so much going on. They really don’t want that fight, and when I lost, did you see how happy he was coming out? I saw it in the back, I swear to God I burst out laughing. I said ‘That n**** happy as f**k. I made him be able to perform like ‘s**t I ain’t gotta fight Wilder.’ Because the rumour was he was talking about retiring if I won,” Wilder said.
Wilder’s comments have been labelled as ’embarrassing’ by boxing fans, as the American continues to make claims about his rival in an attempt to pressure him into a fight. However, given that Joshua has a unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight title, it’s unlikely that Wilder will be able to get his way.
source: BOXING-SOCIAL
